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Fair Em, Act I, Scene 1: In Which Shakespeare . . . or Somebody . . . Tries Their Hand at a Renaissance “Meet Cute.” Sort of.
With apologies for the extended layoff (long story, which I think I’ll save for my memoirs), we’ve now reached Part 2 of our “So Did...

Kirk Jenkins
Aug 222 min read


Donald Trump Is Constitutionally Ineligible to Serve as President
The 117th Congress adjourned sine die with a crucial responsibility unmet. Congressman David Cicilline of Rhode Island introduced a bill,...

Kirk Jenkins
Feb 7, 202311 min read


Next Up: Faire Em, The Millers Daughter of Manchester
First of all, the “Millers” isn’t a typo – apparently they didn’t do typos, at least in 1631 when the Second Quarto was published, so...

Kirk Jenkins
Jan 13, 20221 min read


Yeah, Yeah, But Is It Shakespeare?
We conclude with the central question – did Shakespeare perpetrate this thing, either partially or in full? Well as we’ve noted...

Kirk Jenkins
Jan 11, 20221 min read


In Which Edricus Keeps His Options Open
Another day, another sword fight. Open in Cnut’s camp. He’s showing off what a big ol’ stud he is, bragging about everything he’s going...

Kirk Jenkins
Jan 11, 20222 min read


Ironside, the Most Credulous Man in the Kingdom
As Act V opens, Eddie Ironside strides on stage, and man oh man is he ever orey-eyed. Yeah, I hear you sayin’ “he’s wut?” Well, it turns...

Kirk Jenkins
Jan 11, 20222 min read


Edricus, All Deserting Like a Boss
At the last possible moment, Edricus somehow manages to pay a quick visit to Canute to promise that everything’s a go – Ironside’s forces...

Kirk Jenkins
Jan 1, 20221 min read


Edricus, Conferring With the Other Side Again
Meanwhile, Cnut has gotten himself a letter from Edricus. (For our younger readers, that’s what we older folks used to take paper and...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 31, 20211 min read


Who Are These People (Part 2)?
Enter Emma the Norman. Who? Well, not that we’ve been introduced yet, but apparently this is Daddy Unready’s comely Wife No. 2. She’s...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 30, 20211 min read


Edricus Springs His Clever Trap
As Act IV begins, Ironside – the King one, not the DA-in-the-wheelchair one – is handed the fawning letter from Edricus the Sleazebag. ...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 30, 20212 min read


Stitch Is Lording For All He’s Worth
Stitch is parading around the stage in Edricus’ Lording outfit, and he is most definitely not down with that whole Remember Where You...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 30, 20211 min read


Cnut, On the Other Hand, Is Less Than Impressed With His Army
As you might have guessed, Canute is having a terrible day. He comes on stage next and roundly curses all his men, adding various snide...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 30, 20212 min read


In Which Ol’ Ironside Is Feeling Pretty Darned Pleased With Himself
Once again, we have a killin’ time scene. Ironside enters alone. He announces what the audience has already seen – that his boys are...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 30, 20211 min read


First Rule of Drama: Tell, Don’t Show (Hey, Shakespeare’s New at This)
Enter Chorus, alone on the stage, and you know, as writers of drama say, he’s gonna lay a little pipe. (An expression which is not...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 25, 20211 min read


At Last, We Get a Real Live Sword Fight
Cnut speaketh to his Herald and says goeth down to Troy, the home of Ironside, and go all “surrender, Dorothy” of ‘em before we whup them...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 24, 20211 min read


Killing Time Again – Competing Archbishops, Throwin’ Shade
Gotta buy a little more time for the main actors to get ready for the next set piece, so cue the Archbishops of . . . (checks notes) . ....

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 24, 20211 min read


Cnut Marks His Wedding Day By Disfiguring a Couple of Kids . . . As One Does
Cnut just can’t understand what got into Leofric and Turkillus. Wasn’t I nice and rewarded them with many dubloons . . . or whatever it...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 24, 20211 min read


Act II, Scene 2 – Somebody Needs a Costume Change!
Now we have, well, a scene called “Killing Time” which was oh-so-subtly designed to give everybody time for a quick costume change and to...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 24, 20212 min read


Act II, Scene 1 . . . In Which Ol’ C-Nut is Gonna Be Needing a Criminal Defense Attorney Soon
Cnut swans into the banquet that Southampton has arranged for him at Ye Olde Crib. But there’s just one thing missing . . . “Where, mine...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 20, 20212 min read


Dost Thou Shaft Thy Soldiers, Sirrah?
As Scene 3 opens, Edmund Ironside is talking to General Alfric (I had a bad bout of General Alfric a few years ago . . . but I got better...

Kirk Jenkins
Dec 20, 20212 min read
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